The flag of the Republic of Abkhazia[note 1] was created in 1991 by Valeri Gamgia.

[citation needed] The design of the red canton is based on the banner of the medieval Kingdom of Abkhazia.

[2] The seven stars in the canton have since been reinterpreted to correspond to the seven historical regions of the country: Sadzen, Bzyp, Gumaa, Abzhywa, Samurzaqan, Dal-Tsabal and Pskhuy-Aibga.

[3] Seven is a number sacred to the Abkhaz and the green and white stripes represent the tolerance that allows Christianity and Islam to coexist.

The flag of the Abkhaz ASSR was introduced in 1978 and used until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.